Emergency Situations Your responses to unexpected changes in patient status DO affect patients’ outcomes. You MUST respond immediately and appropriately.

Emergency Changes in Patient Status Patient Status Patient Status Glasgow Coma Scale (pg161) Glasgow Coma Scale (pg161) Eyes open; Motor Response; Verbal Response Eyes open; Motor Response; Verbal Response Code Team Code Team Equipment/Crash Cart Equipment/Crash Cart

Equipment and Supplies On Code Cart Medications Medications Airway Equipment Airway Equipment Circulation Equipment Circulation Equipment Protective Equipment Protective Equipment Miscellaneous Supplies Miscellaneous Supplies

SHOCK Compensatory Stage Skin cold/clammy Respirations increase BP normal Anxiety Progressive Stage BP falls Respirations rapid/shallow Tachycardia (150 beats/min) Mental status: confusion; lethargy; unconscious Irreversible Stage

Shock Hypovolemic Hypovolemic Cardiogenic Cardiogenic Distributive Shock: Distributive Shock: Neurogenic Neurogenic Septic Septic Anaphylactic Anaphylactic

Care For Shock Lie patient down. Lie patient down. Check for open airway Check for open airway Control any bleeding. Control any bleeding. Maintain normal body temp. Maintain normal body temp. Elevate legs 30 degrees unless spine injuries or broken bones Elevate legs 30 degrees unless spine injuries or broken bones

Altered Level of Consciousness Seizures Seizures Partial (Simple) Partial (Simple) Petit Mal (Complex) Petit Mal (Complex) Grand Mal (Generalized) Grand Mal (Generalized) Fainting Fainting

Fainting Prevention Prevention Lie down Lie down Sit with head level with knees Sit with head level with knees Spirits of ammonia 6” away Spirits of ammonia 6” away Cure Cure Lie patient down Lie patient down Loosen tight clothing Loosen tight clothing Elevate legs Elevate legs

Hemorrhage External: External: Capillary - cuts Capillary - cuts Venous – dark red, steady flow Venous – dark red, steady flow Arterial – bright red, spurting Arterial – bright red, spurting Epistaxis –Head forward; pinch 10 min Epistaxis –Head forward; pinch 10 min Internal: Internal: Treat same as shock Treat same as shock

Diabetic Emergencies Diabetes defined as the “inability of the body to properly convert sugar from food into energy.” Diabetes defined as the “inability of the body to properly convert sugar from food into energy.” Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes Mellitus Type I – Insulin dependent Type I – Insulin dependent Type II – Insufficient quantity of insulin Type II – Insufficient quantity of insulin Hyperglycemia Hyperglycemia Hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia Ketoacidosis Ketoacidosis